Seahawks defensive lineman Frank Clark and defensive lineman Jarran Reed through their fists in the air after Clark tackled Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz for a loss in the first half at CenturyLink Field on Dec. 3, 2017. less

Seahawks defensive lineman Frank Clark and defensive lineman Jarran Reed through their fists in the air after Clark tackled Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz for a loss in the first half at CenturyLink Field on ... more

Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY, SEATTLEPI.COM

Image 2 of 14

Seattle Seahawks center Justin Britt, left, stands in support of teammates seated on the bench during the singing of the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Seattle Seahawks center Justin Britt, left, stands in support of teammates seated on the bench during the singing of the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec.

JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 10: Seattle Seahawks defensive end Marcus Smith (97) looks on during the game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Jacksonville Jaguars on December 10, 2017 at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 10: Seattle Seahawks defensive end Marcus Smith (97) looks on during the game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Jacksonville Jaguars on December 10, 2017 at EverBank Field in

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten (82) is tackled after catching a pass by Seattle Seahawks defensive end Dion Jordan (95) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten (82) is tackled after catching a pass by Seattle Seahawks defensive end Dion Jordan (95) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017, in Arlington,

San Francisco 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard, right, is pressured by Seattle Seahawks defensive end Branden Jackson during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/John Hefti)

San Francisco 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard, right, is pressured by Seattle Seahawks defensive end Branden Jackson during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017, in Santa Clara, Calif.

SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 26: C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers is tackled by Michael Bennett #72 and Nazair Jones #92 of the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium on November 26, 2017 in Santa Clara,

Arizona Cardinals running back Adrian Peterson (23) is stopped in the end zone for a safety by Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Nazair Jones (92) and defensive end Frank Clark (55) during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals running back Adrian Peterson (23) is stopped in the end zone for a safety by Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Nazair Jones (92) and defensive end Frank Clark (55) during the first half of an

Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Tom Johnson gets set for a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Tom Johnson gets set for a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

Photo: Jim Mone/AP

Image 13 of 14

PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 17: Shamar Stephen #93 of the Minnesota Vikings in action against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 17, 2017 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 17: Shamar Stephen #93 of the Minnesota Vikings in action against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 17, 2017 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K.

For a moment there in free agency, the Seahawks defensive line didn't look too good.

Michael Bennett had been traded to Philadelphia. Sheldon Richardson had signed with Minnesota. And there was no telling whether Malik McDowell or Cliff Avril would play in 2018 (we still don't know, really).

Thanks to a free-agent tender and a few free-agent signings, Seattle's defensive line -- prior to the draft, of course -- has the potential to again be strong in 2018.

With Bennett and Frank Clark leading the way, Seattle had one of the best pass-rush units in the league, finishing third with 261 total pressures, according to ESPN's Matt Harmon. (Harmon uses Next Gen Stats, which define a "pressure" as a pass-rush play in which a defender gets two yards of the quarterback at the time of the throw or sack).

Bennett led Seattle and finished sixth in the league with 59 pressures, but Clark, effectively playing as a full-time starter with Avril sidelined for 12 games, was second on the team with 42 pressures. Clark led Seattle in sacks with nine and has 19 over the past two seasons.

Clark is the leader of the group now and he'll be joined by fellow edge rushers Marcus Smith (re-signed as a free agent) and Dion Jordan, who received a first-round tender of $1.907 million for 2018 (Seattle will receive first-round compensation if he signs elsewhere this offseason).

Jordan, the No. 3 overall pick in 2013, appeared in five games and had four sacks last season, recording a pressure on 15.8 percent of his pass-rush attempts.

Seattle also gave qualifying offers to exclusive-rights free agents defensive ends Branden Jackson and Quinton Jefferson. Jackson played 24 percent of the defensive snaps and had one-half sack, Jefferson appeared in six games and had one sack.

Over the weekend Seattle signed former Minnesota defensive tackles Tom Johnson and Shamar Stephen, who were contributors on a D-line that finished 10th in the league with 229 total pressures. Against the run, Minnesota ranked fifth in "power success," which -- according to Football Outsiders -- measures runs on third or fourth down, with two or fewer yards to gain, that achieve a first down or TD, and includes runs on first-and-goal or second-and-goal from the two-yard line or closer.

Seattle's defensive line has room to improve against the run, ranking 26th and 30th, respectively in adjusted line yards on runs at the right and left defensive ends, according to Football Outsiders. However the Seahawks did rank fifth against middle and inside runs -- a credit to defensive tackles Bennett, Richardson and Jarran Reed.

The key for Seattle is obviously replacing Bennett's production, though it would appear Clark -- who is entering the final year of his rookie contract, by the way -- is in position to assume a portion of those duties. Playing alongside Bennett in 2017, Bleacher Report ranked Clark the 18th-best pass rusher.

As a pure football talent, there are few players with as bright of an on-field future as Seahawks defensive end Frank Clark. The 24-year-old 2015 second-round draft pick already has 22 sacks in his NFL career. His short-area quickness allows him to beat tackles to the outside or set up a swift inside counter. Over the last two seasons, only eight edge defenders have recorded nine or more sacks in both 2016 and 2017: Mario Addison, Joey Bosa, Chandler Jones, Ryan Kerrigan, Khalil Mack, Von Miller, Cameron Wake and Clark. Should Cliff Avril not return to football, making Clark a 16-game starter for the first time in his career, expect him to fit right in.

Reed is probably locked in as a starting defensive tackle, and it'll be interesting to see whether Nazair Jones -- two sacks, an interception, fumble recovery and three passes defensed in 11 games as a rookie -- or Johnson lands that starting spot beside him. Regardless, Seattle projects to have a potentially solid front line there.

On the edges, perhaps a healthy Smith -- he tweeted Monday he played the 2017 season with a torn ligament in his foot -- and a full year or Jordan, will produce the results Carroll was hoping for when he initially signed the former first-round picks. Health issues have slowed them during their year in Seattle, but there's certainly potential for them to be promising pass rushers -- at low costs, which perhaps is the best part for the Seahawks.

Keep in mind that Seattle will almost certainly draft more defensive linemen, and add depth with undrafted bodies and waiver claims. So while the marquee names are out the door, Seattle has candidates to fill those shoes.